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Time’s A Wasting
Preparing for a smooth move by following a time line
Start planning now – even if you don’t intend to move for several months.
Here’s a timeline that will help.
Six weeks before moving day:
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If you are moving because of a job transfer, find out what expenses the company is responsible for and what expenses you are responsible for. Start searching for a moving company. Get estimates from at least four companies. Ask around for recommendations.
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Take an inventory of your possessions and decide what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of.
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Make a list of everyone who needs to be notified of the move – relatives, friends, doctors, vets, schools, banks, magazines, etc. Get a change-of-address kit from the post office. Start using up perishable items, like frozen foods and cleaning supplies that won’t move well.
Five weeks before moving day:
Select the mover and make arrangements for moving day.
Find out from your insurance company what belongings of yours are covered and from the moving company what its insurance covers. The basic insurance of most moving companies is by the pound. This will not be enough, so find out what other types of insurance they offer. Have your more expensive items appraised before the move.
Start notifying schools, dentists, vets and doctors about the move and get copies of all your important records. Send out change-of-address forms, especially to magazines.
Four weeks before moving day:
Start getting rid of all unwanted items.
Collect boxes for packing, along with packing material, tape and markers for writing on each box where the contents go.
Now is a good time to start packing any nonessential stuff. Look in the garage, attic and other storage areas and pack whatever you can there.
Check with the post office to make sure they have received your change-of-address card.
Two weeks before moving day:
Arrange to have the phone and utilities shut off or transferred the day after the move. Make arrangements to have the utilities and phones turned on at the new house on moving day.
One week before moving day:
Get all your important items out of the safety deposit box. Keep them with you when moving.
Get all prescriptions refilled.
Confirm the moving date and time with the movers.
Defrost and clean the refrigerator.
Start packing everything except what you will need up to moving day. Prepare snow blowers, lawn mowers, and the like by draining the oil and gas. Hire a professional to empty and seal propane tanks. Moving companies won’t take any paint, flammables or chemicals, so you should properly dispose of them. They also won’t take plants.
On moving day:
Make sure there is someone around to supervise the movers.
Give the house a final look to ensure nothing has been left behind.
Carefully check the bill of lading and make sure the movers have a phone number at which to reach you.
Lock all the doors and windows, set the thermostat on low and shut off all appliances left behind.
If you haven’t sold the house, make sure someone has the keys to it. Let the local police know the house will be vacant.
On move-in day:
Make sure someone is there before the movers arrive who can direct the movers where to put everything. Make sure the movers place the boxes out of the way.
Check that the phone and utilities have been turned on.
Have the payment for the movers on hand, which they will want before they begin unloading.
Check for any damaged items. Make sure all boxes and furniture are accounted for before signing the bill of lading.
There is enough stress involved in moving without having mass confusion added to the mix. Following a timeline just may help eliminate some of the confusion and make the move easier.
– Thank you Rhonda Addy, Special to The Tennessean Classifieds, April 2005.
For your convenience, click onto the UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE CHANGE OF ADDRESS website.
Thank you for visiting www.HendersonvilleTennesseeRealEstate.com.
And remember . . . Don’t spend a PENNY ‘til you call JENNY!
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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Link
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Problem: Conducting and storing an inventory of the belongings in your home.
Solution: Download free home-inventory software such as KnowYourStuff.org (www.knowyourstuff.org), a service of the Insurance Information Institute, or MakeLifeEasy (www.makelifeeasy.com). The software will help you inventory your home by creating files for individual rooms and adding descriptions of their respective items, including the purchase date, replacement cost and serial number. You can also upload photos through some services. Scan receipts and appraisals, and include them in your home inventory to prove the value of an item. Find out if the software provider offers free or low-cost secure online data storage. For instance, Switzerland-based Vault 24 (www.vault24.com/public) charges $14.99 a year to store a home-inventory project that you can access via its Web site in the event of a disaster. (The site also links directly with KnowYourStuff.org.) When taking inventory, you should typically videotape the exterior and interior of your home, describing each item you see. Store your video or DVD in a safe-deposit box, along with a printed copy of your inventory, and give another copy to a friend or relative.
Caveat: A home inventory will need frequent updating as you buy new things.
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